Butch,
You may have got them from me if you got it at the Harrisonburg Show. I stabilize a lot of black palm (Herb Derr buys almost all I bring every year),and I do some red palm ,too.Both,almost always end grain.......I just went and looked,There is one set of scales in red palm in the cabinet.It is side grain,stabilized,but looks good.Has a nice feather pattern.Size is 5X1.25X3/8".If you need it it is yours,no charge.Send me your shipping address in a PM and I'll send it out asap.
For those who want to cut black or red palm for end grain scales,here is the trick.It is only available in 3-4" width and seldom more than 1" thick.Set your table saw blade at a 30 degree angle.Set your miter fence at 45 degrees. Cut the board up and you will get lots of matching pairs of end grain with the tubes being sort of ovals (looks like fish scales).They will come out around 5X1.25 to 6X1.5,depending on the size of the board.Flip one of the scales in each set so the grain meets at the tang in a "V".It actually looks better this way than a straight end grain cut.I have the board stabilized first,and cut the scales from the stabilized plank - much less tear-out!
BTW,palm is nearly useless unless stabilized,and it takes a sharp saw blade due to the silica content.
Stacy
